Leaving Mass After Communion

[passus]

The legalism that would lead someone to say it’s better to miss Mass entirely than to leave early is exactly why there isn’t a minimalist requirement anymore.

The reason why there is no longer a minimalist requirement is to emphasize the importance of presence at the Mass for the entirety of its duration. This came with the elevated prominence and importance of the Liturgy of the Word we find in the liturgy of Vatican II.

Now, I never said that it’s better to miss Mass entirely than to leave early. You said that. Without a doubt, one will still receive the blessings and graces of the Mass (up until the point that he skips out) and of Holy Communion, too. That’s better than nothing.

Let me draw an analogy. I go to a performing arts school and as a requirement for one of my classes, I am required by the professor as outlined in his syllabus to attend certain performances with him and our class each semester. There are no make-ups and there are no excusals for any reason. You are expected to stay the duration of the performance and if you arrive late or attempt to leave early and are found out, the credit is forfeited. Now that’s not to say that if go to a performance and I try to leave early, I won’t have found anything enriching or inspiring in what I just heard and saw. But, nonetheless, I will not receive credit because I did not satisfy the requirement.

 

[Corki]

The reason why there is no longer a minimalist requirement is to emphasize the importance of presence at the Mass for the entirety of its duration. This came with the elevated prominence and importance of the Liturgy of the Word we find in the liturgy of Vatican II.

**Now, I never said that it’s better to miss Mass entirely than to leave early. You said that. **Without a doubt, one will still receive the blessings and graces of the Mass (up until the point that he skips out) and of Holy Communion, too. That’s better than nothing.

Let me draw an analogy. I go to a performing arts school and as a requirement for one of my classes, I am required by the professor as outlined in his syllabus to attend certain performances with him and our class each semester. There are no make-ups and there are no excusals for any reason. You are expected to stay the duration of the performance and if you arrive late or attempt to leave early and are found out, the credit is forfeited. Now that’s not to say that if go to a performance and I try to leave early, I won’t have found anything enriching or inspiring in what I just heard and saw. But, nonetheless, I will not receive credit because I did not satisfy the requirement.

Nope, it wasn’t me – it was the poster in post #10. I have never seen any Church document, your performing arts example notwithstanding, that says that a person does not fulfill his/her Sunday obligation unless he/she is present for 100% of the Mass. Of course it is wrong to leave early but it doesn’t wipe out the person’s presence at the other 99% of the Mass.

Since you seem to like analogies, let’s say you are taking a class in college and have an “A” going into the final. You decide to skip the final which is worth 20% of your grade. As a result, you end up with a “C”. Was it bad to skip the final? Yes. Did you earn an “F” on the final? Yes. Did you shortchange your own learning? Yes. Do you still earn credit for the class? Yes.

 

[passus]

Nope, it wasn’t me – it was the poster in post #10.

Err…I’m not so sure it says that in post #10. The poster there says that in an effort to avoid scandal, it might be permissible to avoid going to Mass if he intends to leave early–even under legitimate circumstances. I don’t agree with that, but whatever.

I have never seen any Church document, your performing arts example notwithstanding, that says that a person does not fulfill his/her Sunday obligation unless he/she is present for 100% of the Mass. Of course it is wrong to leave early but it doesn’t wipe out the person’s presence at the other 99% of the Mass.

Ah, but we have nothing that suggests otherwise. And we have the change in the law which seems to levy importance on attendance at Mass in its entirety. This is liturgical law. Not American law. We really don’t need a line that says, “You must be present for 100% of the Mass for your obligation to be satisfied; unjustified individuals who leave early have not satisfied this obligation.”

EDIT: I should also add…In terms of liturgical law, nothing abrogates an obligation. Ever. The consequence of ignoring an obligation varies, but in the case of an unfulfilled Sunday obligation, the consequence is mortal sin. Now, it is possible to have a disparity between the satisfaction of said obligation and the consequence of that action. For example, it is possible that I could attend 95% of a Mass–not have satisfied my obligation because I had missed 5% of the Mass–but not have committed a mortal sin! Or committed venial sin. Or committed no sin at all. This gets pretty complicated.

Maybe our difficulty in understanding one another is what we understand “obligation” to be?

Since you seem to like analogies, let’s say you are taking a class in college and have an “A” going into the final. You decide to skip the final which is worth 20% of your grade. As a result, you end up with a “C”. Was it bad to skip the final? Yes. Did you earn an “F” on the final? Yes. Did you shortchange your own learning? Yes. Do you still earn credit for the class? Yes.

I do like analogies, but I only like analogies which are fitting. I can’t seem to find the relevance in this.

Furthermore, I go to a performing arts school, like I said. We don’t take tests and so this example is lost on me.

 

[Corki]

Ah, but we have nothing that suggests otherwise. And we have the change in the law which seems to levy importance on attendance at Mass in its entirety. This is liturgical law. Not American law. We really don’t need a line that says, “You must be present for 100% of the Mass for your obligation to be satisfied; unjustified individuals who leave early have not satisfied this obligation.”

Well, we have the CAF appologist’s response. She was writing about coming late for Mass and addressed the same issues we are discussing here.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=13499

 

[wcknight]

I once heard a priest say, the priest should be the LAST to enter and the FIRST to leave.

I am usually at mass well ahead of everyone else and I usually leave well after most folks have left (I usher at most masses that I attend).

BUT there have been a few occasions when I too had to leave early (and they were not necessarily dire emergencies, I just had to be somewhere else in a hurry). Even then I stay until the priest says the final blessing and says the mass is ended.

I think if you can help it, you should stay until at least the final blessing and the dissmisal when the priest says the mass is over. I am happy to see folks at mass even if they have to rush out for whatever reason. There are so many folks who don’t attend mass at all except for Easter and Christmas, and sometimes not even then.

If you make it to mass on a regular basis, I think you are far ahead of a lot of folks. No matter what time you leave I always tell folks to have a nice day or have a nice week regardless.

 

[wjp984]

I think it depends on how long the homily was or how long the anouncements are etc.

Just kidding, but you know there is some truth to that way of thinking,

Oh, if you go to an Eastern Catholic liturgy no one leaves after communion. It’s too hard to sneak out without everyone noticing.

 

[Marcus_T]

Actually, according the “Saint Joseph Sunday Missal” the part where the priest says, “The Mass is ended, go in peace” is called “The Dismissal”. The priest is actually telling us to leave so there is no requirement to stay during the last hymn. In fact, I have seen many priests after saying the “Dismissal” walk up and kiss the alter and then immediately leave and they don’t even partake in the last hymn.

However, I would say it is good to stay until the last hymn is sung completely but it is not necessary nor is it a requirement and one should not feel guilty for doing so. I do agree that leaving right after communion is wrong.

 

[Boulder257]

I didn’t mean to come off as uncharitable, nor do I judge those who leave early. Just like you, I try and not focus on people leaving, and when I see someone stepping out, I think they must have a legitimate reason.

What I meant by the inclusion of my comment was the precedent that those faithful to Christ remained with Him through the entire Last Supper. Obviously, there are emergencies where people need to leave mass early, and these are understood by God. But those who leave for ‘convenience’, or just because they had Communion and can check that off the list for the week, are turning their backs on Christ. It is our duty to educate them that mass continues after the Eucharist.

I’m sorry. I knew you weren’t being uncharitable and I apologize if it seemed I was calling you such. I knew the context of your comment and found it incredibly relevant. I am actually going to “steal” it for future use if it is okay with you!

 

[I_Thirst]

In my parish, the time from the end of Communion to Dismissal (not including the recessional hymn) is less than five minutes. How many good reasons are there that one couldn’t wait for five minutes?

If you are caring for someone who is so gravely ill that five minutes is a matter of life and death, stay home – the obligation is abrogated in such dire circumstances.